Method of producing ornamental surfaces.



W. J. SMART.

METHOD OF PRODUCING ORNAMENTAL SURFACES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1911.

iii (3,567.. Patented. Feb. 8,1916' was FIGA was g1 are FATE T F F KQQWALTER J. sivmar, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF PRODUGING- ORNAMENTAL SURFACES.

Application filed February 28, 1911.

To all whom it mag concern: a I Be it known that I, WALTER J. SMART, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York,'boroughof Manhattan, county and State of New Yor k,l 1ave invented 'certain newand useful Improvements in Methods of Producing Ornamental Surfaces, ofwhich the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to surface ornamentation, particularly as.applied on articles of metal, plaster and the like, to simulatematerials or substances of dissimilar natures and colorings, andespecially to the production upon such objects of an ornamental surfaceof the popular and, highly desirable finish commonly known as verdantique. l

My invention is further designed to pro.- vide an economical, efficientand rapid method of ornamentating surfaces of metals which willwithstand hard usage without losing its pleasing efiects, and which whenapplied to plaster, or other materials of a like nature will render thesame waterproof. making ..f* it possible to clean the plaster object asreadily as one of metal. This so called verd antique finish as is wellknown, is primarily supposed to rep-' resent an old article which hasbeen covered with verdi-gris, which by handling or rubbing has beenremoved from the prominent portions but remains in the crevices therebygiving a relief and high light to the more prominentparts, and producingan ornamental effect. Heretofore, it .-has been impossible to produce averd antique effect or finish upon plaster or-similar substances, whilethe method of vobtainingthat? particular effect on metals has been toplate the metal with copper and apply thereto some oxidizing solution,then to immerse thegarticle in an acid solution'to cause corrosion,after which it was removed from the 4 bath and permitted to dry. Severalimmersions or baths were necessary to produce the move with a brush theverdi-g-ris from the high portions and polish in some manner,

desired amount of verdi-gris and the drying process consumedconsiderable time. After drying, the process then'was usually to reas,for instance, by using a brush which had been rubbed against bee s wax.'Thls fin sh,

of course, being imparted by a body whlch will melt at a lowtemperature, was not stable and the coating being more or less;

l P. i

Specification of Letters Patent.

desired shade or coloring,

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

Serial No. 611,504.

sticky, the verdi-gris, after becoming dry, was found to often peel ofiwith the wax.

-Not only -is the finish above described unstable, but 1t. is expensiveand requires a In applying lacquer, which I have found it desirable touse in connection with my improved.art', I have discovered that in itsusual consistency when several coats are applied, even though theirapplication is made at considerable intervals apart, they will coalesceand will become one integral body, thus differing fromthe action ofpaints or similar materials when applied in coats.

With my process, the polishing and buifing above described is entirelydone away with, as is also the plating and the acid treatment. Byeliminating the acid treat- .ment, of course, the intermediate waitingfor chemical action'to take place upon the metal is also done away with.Furthermore, my improved finish, to produce any may be applied to anydesired metal and to any other surface, while, heretofore, the verdantique in partiQlllhLflOu-ld only beproduced'iiiion a metal which wouldaccumulate verdi-gris, or to a surface which could be plated with ametal which would accumulate verdi-gris.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the application of myinvention to a piece of statuary, Figure 1 shows one of the methods,which may be employed for spraying the coating upon'the object undertreatment. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the'base material'of theobject. Fig. 3 .is a similar view showing the base coating of my processapplied to the base material of the object. Fig. 4: is a diagrammaticview showing the second or film coating applied and Fig. 5 is a similarview after-portions of the second or film coating have been removed,

particles of the latter remaining in the intaglio parts of the object.

In carrying out my invention, which for the purpose ofclearness, I willdescribe with reference to its particular application for the productionof the verd antique finish quer-enamel.

coat of clear lacquer or priming coat has distance surface of mosphereor may be 'ducing a fine spray,

although any other finish on simulation may be as efliciently obtained,I apply to the article a under treatment a base or body-coat oflacquer-enamel b' which is a material made from pigments ground inlacquer instead of in the customary oils or varnishes, the lacquerenamel being sprayed upon the the article being treated, preferably froman atomizing device such as shownat c, the color employed being thatwhich will simulate the particular metal or the like .whichit is desiredto reproduce or imitatetfor instance, when it is desired to but. isused. In

some instances it is desirable to cover the surface with a coat of clearlacquer to insure adhesion before applying .the pigment lac- After thebase-coat or bodybeen applied, the desired number of coats will beapplied to give a body-color-coat of the proper density. The-article maythen be permitted to dry over night in the atdried in a much shortertime by artificial heat.

When the base coating has become thoroughly dry and the materialhardened, I spray upon thesurface to be ornamented, preferably by meansof an atomizer proa color suchas light green or other shade which will.serve to simulate verdi-gris, as designated by d. In applying thissecond coat of lacquer, which is produced with a solvent similar to thatused in the production of the lacquer for use asa body coat, an atomizeris employe which isof a type to produce a very fine spray, treatment,Ssee Fig. 1) so that in the spraying' of theacquer through theatmosphere from the nozzle of the atomizer to the surface of the object,a partial volatilization of the lacquer will take plac'eand it will bedeposited upon the surface of theobject orarticle in a semi-dry orcreamy state. This second or film coat will consequently adhere to thebase coating previously applied to the object but will not coalescetherewith. In this connection it may be stated that Where paints areapplied in layers of several coats, each coat retains its individualityand does not amalgamate with the preceding coat, whereas lacquer,enamels, etc., under ordinary conditions of use, have peculiarproperties or constituents, which cause coalescence of the several coatsapplied to' a surface. Therefore, in carrying out my process the same apractical and in order to make find success,'it was incumbent upon me tosome method of applying a second coat of object under treatment,

the same being-held at a considerable from the object or. article under.

.face may be lacquer, which would eliminate any possibility ofcoalescence of the second coat with the base coat and permit the readyremoval of the second coat from thoseportions of the object which wereto be so treated. This I was enabled to accomplish by spraying the withthe base coat as would otherwise be the deposit of a dusty .thesurface'of the which may be refacility from such may be desired by ofturpentine without affecting the base or body coat, as is hereinaftermore fully explained.

The spraying of the second or verd coat upon the article will build upa'film of the desired coloring which will cover the entire surface witha likedensity. To remove the film of verd lacquer usual-1y the reliefonly, I find it undesirable to use a solvent of lacquer, owing to .thefact it would loosen or soften the under-coat and make an unsightly ieceof work. urthermore, it is not feasi le to grind or 'huif ofi this filmby ordinary means.

to use some suitable cutting material, and I the case and results infilm-like covering upon moved with comparative portions of the object asthe employment of spirits have foundthat turpenti11e,.used'-in connec-.

Therefore, it is necessary tion with some friction producing rubbingmaterial, as felt for instance, possesses peculiar properties and whenapplied to the portions under treatment, the friction produced byrubbing will remove the film coat from the projecting portions withoutinjuring the under-coating, thereby uncovering the base coatrepresenting the metal or thelike and producing the high lights whichare desired, the verd remain ng in the. intaglio as indicated at d inFig. 5, the surface of the under-coating in this manner not being affected" by the turpentine and the material which is used'to apply itowing. to the application of the verd coat in a semi-dry state. In someinstances the palm of the hand and fingers may has been removed from therelief the surcleaned, as for instance, by rubbing with a cloth and thecoating permitted to become thoroughly hard and dr It may .then bebrushed with astiff brush, which will v add to the polish on the relief.portions and give it the desired luster. By

be employed for relievingthe verd material. "When the verd face of theobject,

the employment ofmy' process it will be seen that a fewhours only-arerequired for the production of a surface effect which by former methodsrequired several days and in the case of some substancefcould not beproduced at all. I

While, as before stated, I have described my invention with'reference tothe production of a verd-antique surface, I would have it expresslyunderstood that my process may be applied with equal facility andefliciency in obtaining any finish or representation and that suchchanges as may be made in practising my improved method and in thenewproduot are within the scope of my invention.

Having describedmy invention, I claim:

1. The method of producing ornamental surfaces simulating metal onobJeCts of a plastic material having an intaglio and relief de sign,which consists in spraying on the sura base coat of lacquer of a colorsimulating a metal, then spraying over the body coating a second or filmcoat of lacquer in a' manner whereby partial volatilization of thesecondcoat will occur in transit and the lacquer will bedeposited uponthe ob3ect in a semi-dry state to represent a state of corrosion of themetal simulated by said body coating, then removing fiopiee of thispatent may be obtained for Witnesses:

said second coating from portions of the obresent the metal, thenapplying to the base coating a film coat of lacquer by spraying thelacquer upon the object from a distance, whereby partialvolatilizationof the lacquer solvent will be effected in transit and thelacquer deposited upon the surface of the object in a semi-dry state,said second coating representing a state of corrosion of the metalsimulated by the base coat, then removing said film coating fromportions of the object by applying turpentine thereto and creatingfriction by rubbing and then subjecting the entire surface of the objectto a polishing process.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

- WALTER J. SMART.

- A. L. BENASARAF,

A. G. KANE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. 0.?

